Speaking of his brand philosophy, Minale says: “We always start a home or space from the small touch points and metal fittings first and then work outwards, which is more in tune with how an industrial designer would tackle the subject of interior design — in short, it’s reversed.”

The company now has storefront locations in London and Stockholm, offering fittings and furniture for kitchens, bathrooms, and living rooms. Hip light switch and electrical plate alternatives remain their bread and butter, but pieces like the burnt steel “Forked” pendant are also natural favorites.

Minale’s aesthetic takes its cues from his after-hours hobby of the past few years. “I was working as an architect by day and making custom motorbikes by night,” he explains. “In a garage in …East London, I taught myself how to transform stock vintage motorbikes into one-off customs. I made all the parts from scratch and started selling my motorbikes to London’s most notorious. Being an architect, requests soon turned from motorbikes to home fittings, and I set about making everything from door handles to toilet roll holders. The seed was planted and my love child between architecture and motorbikes was born, his name — Buster + Punch.”

After finding success in his career with architecture firms Foster + Partners and Richard Rogers, Minale launched his home fashion line in 2013, immediately striking a chord with London’s celebrity and sub-culture scenes with knurled knobs in the style of speaker switches and pendant lights that mimicked hand-held microphones.

Buster + Punch’s glam industrial aesthetic has led to numerous collaborations over the years, including the creation of the Rockstar Bar with Harrod’s, a liquor console made of solid American walnut with a quilted silk backing, a black-caged light, and 24-karat gold hardware. Another partnership with Rolls-Royce resulted in a bespoke version of the Buster Bulb, an LED lamp with a Royce-patented B22-fitting and a gold-plated bayonet cap. The one-off was available for just one night.

The firm’s Skull collection is the product of its most recent collaboration — this time with LA producer and Blink 182 drummer Travis Barker. Inserting the tattoo and skate culture icon into home decor, the anthology is made up of lights, candle holders, door stops, cabinet knobs, and even necklaces. The Skull Table lamp, for example, comes in all polished brass or solid steel with a distinguishing cranial fob on the end of the pull chain.

Attention to details like these is what Buster + Punch is all about. As Minale says on the company website, “In a nutshell, my mission is to reinvent forgotten home fittings into the unforgettable.”

The post Buster + Punch Brings Bold Motorcycle Vibes to Home Decor first appeared on Dornob.

Both items debuted on April 1st, prompting many to wonder whether they were actually real or just an April Fool’s Day joke. But despite their tongue-in-cheek nature, these things are fully functional. Designed by Japanese firm Gelchop for IKEA’s Art Event 2021, the LED table lamp (€39/$46 USD) aims to encourage viewers to question “an object’s ‘true’ purpose in the world,” according to a press release. It’s designed to lay flat on a surface, charges via USB, and consists of aluminum and plastic. The accompanying LED torch (€25/$30 USD) comes in blue or silver and is hilariously oversized.

“The inspiration for our ideas comes from everyday experiences and objects that, with a different approach, we transform into new, fun, and playful works of art and everyday gadgets,” says Gelchop. “IKEA ART EVENT 2021 table lamp and torches are a great example of how we work. So many people associate the Allen key with IKEA, yet it has a completely different function here with our interpretation. It’s something that we hope will even be appreciated by those who are not fans of assembling furniture.”

IKEA’s sixth annual Art Event is a limited collection blurring the line between art and functional design. The brand selected five artists and designers to create pieces that capture the imagination while doubling as useful household items. The other items in the 2021 range include a dramatic black and white tabletop clock by Daniel Arsham, a slitted round wall light by Sabine Marcelis, a framed drone collection by the firm Humans since 1982, and a glass vase and blanket printed with graphic lettering by Stefan Marx.

Many people see art as something to gaze at from a respectful distance in a museum or gallery, but IKEA hopes the event will help democratize art by removing some of those boundaries and encouraging physical interaction. Truly, each one of these pieces has its own story to tell.

An official company statement on the collection reads: “Driven by curiosity, these visionaries take recognizable objects and add their unique artistic spin, shifting our view of what a simple clock or lamp, flashlight or throw, vase or picture is. Each of these pieces has a vision of its own, elevating the ordinary into the extraordinary. IKEA ART EVENT 2021 showcases the future of living with art — where it can be picked up and used as well as thoughtfully reflected upon. There are no boundaries in IKEA’s new vision; art every day for everyone.”

If you like these quirky items, you should snap them up right away, because they’ll only be available for purchase in select stores or for delivery via IKEA-USA.com through May 2021.

The post IKEA Pays Homage to Its Most Iconic Tool with a Fun Allen Key Lamp first appeared on Dornob.

That’s a big stroke of brilliance for our environment, as one-third of the average U.S. garbage dump today is made up of packaging material. And the situation’s not much better in other industrialized countries, either. According to the EU, Europeans generated roughly 174 kgs (383 pounds) of packaging waste per person in 2018.

Eliminating more of those cardboard boxes and plastic bubble wrap sheets is exactly what was on the mind of industrial design student Sungrai Kim when he invented the “Light Box.” More specifically, his concept uses the cardboard case that houses the electrical kit to become a lampshade. Its biodegradable, economical, and even gives the buyer a little origami practice.

Included in the Light Box is a mini electric light kit with three bulb modules, three solar panels, and a charging wire. The binding string that holds the package together also doubles as the hanging string, while the box itself is marked with both perforated and dotted lines, with enough material to build three separate luminescent configurations.

The first is an indoor hanging light that uses the cardboard as an adjustable lamp shade. It utilizes the package fastening strap and a retaining clip to allow a range of height and brightness.

Secondly, the Light Box can be shaped for the outdoors, similar in style to a flashlight. In this case, the carton folds up into a handheld device with an octagonal grip.

Finally, the contents can be assembled as a show light. Working like a spotlight, this configuration allows users to “enjoy a variety of shadow plays” with the four different shadow graph frames included in the packaging (one even looks like a ship with its sails unfurled). Kim, currently enrolled at Chung-Ang University in Seoul, says the show version can also provide indoor mood ambience.

Because of its solar capabilities, Kim’s creation is super versatile. It can light up your camping trips or provide a cozy glow in an apartment. It could also have widespread applications in poorer areas of the world where electricity is scarce or unreliable. Kim hopes his invention will improve the quality of life for people everywhere.

And of course, this modular lantern is revolutionary in its use of packaging as product. Most companies are simply looking for ways to make packing materials more biodegradable or more sustainably-sourced, but the Light Box is one of a kind in terms of wrapping and shipping the product in itself.

Some notable attempts to compel packaging to at least multi-task include Pizza Hut’s 2016 gimmick that saw its iconic pizza box turned into a DJ turntable, which itself could be Bluetooth-paired and controlled via smartphone phone. Later, in 2019, Puma fashioned the Clever Little Bag, a shoebox for bringing home purchases that morphed into a reusable tote after the shoes and cardboard insert were removed.

For those interested in learning more about Kim’s illuminating handiwork, his Light Box can be found exclusively on Behance.com, a social media platform that aims to “showcase and discover creative work.”

The post This Light is Made Out of Its Own Packaging first appeared on Dornob.

Four mirrors, all flowing in different directions around wooden dowels, make up the new “Melt” collection. Bower Studios founders Danny Giannella, Tammer Hijazi, and Jeffrey Renz aim to tell a brain-bending story of transformation with their unorthodox-looking pieces.

“We like to examine visual cues that most of us innately understand but may never be conscious of,” Giannella said in a Dezeen interview. “If something droops around something in a certain way, we automatically perceive it to be soft. By using a material that is clearly not soft, we flip the laws of physics on their head and bring these inherent visual cues to light.”

All the mirrors are CNC-machine-cut in-house before being mounted to wood substrate in either deep walnut or light oak. Every backboard has at least one protruding wooden peg that visually supports the sliding glass. “It looks like the mirrors would slide down and flop to the floor like wet noodles without the dowel,” says Hijazi. “All the pieces in our Melt collection have a grounding element – a rigid component that allows the other, melty component to express itself.”

The first looking glass forms a candy-cane-like shape, its long body slumping over a centered peg. A second rolls over a wooden circle before pooling down to the floor. The third piece resembles a curtain draped across two rods, while the fourth resembles something like a string of pasta hung to dry on an asymmetrical frame.

The Melt range also includes several pieces of furniture. Benches, chairs, and end tables all incorporate elements that seem to ooze over their surfaces. The website even features a digital rendering of the mirrors and furniture melting into their current forms as the heat of the sun moves across them. “The creamy upholstered seat cushions, the travertine table tops, the glass mirrors, [are] all drooping down as if experiencing some force of nature, some oppressive heat or laziness perhaps that exists in a dimension of their own,” the designers explain.

Looking at all the sagging glass in this collection, it’s easy to see how the 2020 coronavirus pandemic may have influenced its design. Placing their reflective creations in a fictitious digital background of overgrown stone ruins created by Alexis Christodoulou, Bower Studios wanted to provide a “surreal manifestation of the past few months” of the COVID pandemic experience. The untamed setting hints at the “ruin of a past life.” Funny enough, the rounded, flowing mirrors are some of the only things that add a sense of playful peace to the scene.

“We wanted this collection to exude extreme tranquility and relaxation, hoping it would be somewhat contagious to the rest of us who could probably loosen up a bit these days,” notes Renz.

New York-based Bower Studios was founded in 2013 by Giannella and Hijazi, both of whom were joined by Renz on the business side the following year. They create all types of furniture, lighting, and accessories, but mirrors are their specialty. “Of all the things we surround ourselves with every day, the mirror is most closely related to our consciousness — a humble technology for understanding ourselves,” the website says.

Offered in clear, peach, bronze, and black, the Melt collection is currently available to pre-order, with pieces priced between $1,700 and $4,300 and an expected ship date of March 2021.

The post Bower Studios’ New Melting Mirror Collection Reflects the Surrealness of the Pandemic first appeared on Dornob.

It’s the latter characterization that interests Yuko Nishikawa, a Japanese designer and contemporary ceramicist based in Brooklyn. Her new lighting collection, “You See a Sheep,” is just as much a sculptural installation as it is a series of hanging lamps with organic shapes. If it feels a little disorienting to be surrounded by these strange objects, all the better.

The bulbs are housed within hand-built ceramic shells and suspended by thin metal wire so they appear to float in midair. Holes cut into the paper-like surfaces emit “a mysterious yet warm glow,” and the effect changes depending on how you arrange them, which ones you pair together, and how many you install.

“The title You See a Sheep is inspired by two stories. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, where The Prince finds his favorite sheep in a drawing of a box, and Model T Frankenstein by Hideo Furukawa, which opens with the line “You see a goat,” suggesting that it is in our perception that the goat exists. I mix paper fiber in a wet clay body to achieve strong lightweight shells, using a coiling technique to emphasize the uneven surface and the irregular enclosed forms. Then, once the clay firms up, I cut out the holes. Next, I apply color clay to the surface, and then finally fire them in an electric kiln.”

“This chandelier that you see with 24 ceramic shells was made for the group exhibition ‘In Good Company,’ held in Fernando Mastrangelo Studio | FM/S in New York in September 2018. I saw this exhibition as a celebration of art and design and an opportunity to build a supportive community of the designers and the users. So I designed this chandelier with some shells hanging low to the ground, others floating high, altogether creating a conical volume. It becomes an environment where people can walk through and physically engage with the installation.”

Each one is handmade without a mold, and although the artist roughly reproduces individual designs, they’re all slightly different. They’re especially striking in large installations, but notable alone as well. Each one is also available for purchase. Hoh-Tel, for instance, is a pendant lamp consisting of three “You See a Sheep” ceramic shells — the Hoh-Tel, Key-Low, and Wun-Wun designs — installed with a single canopy. Cables hold the shells aloft while their electrical wires flow a little more loosely, becoming a part of the overall composition.

Nishikawa specializes in “fantastical installations, whimsical lighting, and collectible objet d’art,” all of which perfectly describe this collection. She was raised in a beach town in Tokyo, which clearly influenced her sense of aesthetics. She currently works out of a studio full of furniture handcrafted by her friends and herself in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

The post Yuko Nishikawa’s Organic Floating Lamps Made of Handcrafted Ceramic Shells first appeared on Dornob.

Envisioned by designer Marie-Lise Féry and brought to life by Venini, “Balloon” blends a little bit of decadent French cabaret style with the timeless look of mouth-blown glass. Each pendant lamp is fitted with an energy-efficient LED bulb and features a fluted shape, with either a brass or nickel base in polished or brushed finish. The two designs include the swirling “Canne” and the flower-bud-like “Spirale.”

“Tasty, playful, and wonderful, the new Balloon collection by Magic Circus Éditions defies gravity with haute-couture, weightless designs,” states a press release on the collection. “Are they giant beehives or helium-filled balloons from our childhood memories? This is the elegant fantasy world suggested by these mouth-blown creations featuring colorful and warped motifs crafted with exquisite fineness.”

“The fourth collection by Magic Circus Éditions was made possible by the brand’s alliance with Venini glassworks. Widely recognized as one of the greatest representatives of Murano glass artistry since it was founded in 1921, the company has lent the talents of its glassworkers to some of the most prominent names in art and design, from Ettore Sottsass to Tadao Ando.”

Coming in various shades of vivid red, cobalt blue, sunny yellow, and a range of pastels, the swirling stripes of the lamps really do evoke a vintage circus aesthetic and cute little wrapped candies all at once. Best of all, they’re sculptural and undeniably fun — a characteristic the modern design world could certainly use a bit more of. They don’t come cheap, though. you can find them for upwards of €5,000 each at fine lighting retailers like Eames.

Magic Circus Éditions founder Féry approached the project with a sense of humor, aiming to bring a little bit of fantasy into the world of high-end lighting. The designer’s approach to her work is to “use light to tell stories,” offering a new take to shift perspectives of what lighting can look like and achieve. Calling herself “a free-spirited antiquarian,” Féry is known for blending modern and retro elements for pieces that feel fresh and unique.

Venini was founded in 1921 by Milanese lawyer Paolo Venini, Venetian antiquarian Giacamo Cappellin, and Venetian artist Vittorio Zecchin, establishing a stylistic identity that embraces the avant-garde while mastering glassmaking techniques with the help of Venice’s most talented artisans. The brand shot to fame with its iconic “Veronese” vase, which remains its best-known work to to this day, and has been elevating the profile of Venetian glass around the world for nearly a century since.

The brand’s website explains that “countless artists have collaborated with VENINI, past and present. They’ve come from all over the planet to meet the mysterious charm of the fornace (kiln). Each encounter gives life to a cross-contamination between artisanship, Murano’s glassmaking heritage, avant-garde design, and the purest form of creativity. An endless adventure that embodies the identity of VENINI.”

The post Magic Circus Éditions Launches Sculptural “Balloon” Lighting Pendants first appeared on Dornob.

A new smart lamp by Dyson aims to address part of that problem by adjusting itself not only to the daylight where you live, but also to your age, which tends to dictate how much brightness you need. The Lightcycle task light is also designed to help reduce eye strain by eliminating even the slightest imperceptible flicker or glare.

“As we get older, our eye muscles weaken and the lenses harden — so we need up to four times more light,” the company explains. “The Lightcycle task light automatically adjusts to give you the recommended brightness for your age. A 65-year-old person needs up to four times more light than a 20-year-old. The Dyson Lightcycle task light corrects brightness based on the age you enter into the Dyson Link app.”

But the light will also monitor ambient levels of brightness in the room and adjust itself accordingly. An infrared movement sensor switches the light on when you’re near and off when you’ve been away for five minutes, and you can even set it to brighten gradually at the time you wake up to mimic a natural sunrise. This helps reset your body’s internal clock, making you feel more rested throughout the day.

The Lightcycle regulates blue light, too, and this is where that “tracking your local daylight” part comes in. Blue light is emitted by a lot of gadgets, like computers and smart phones, and can aid concentration during the day. Unfortunately, exposure to it for too long can interfere with sleep. The Lightcycle tracks local daylight to provide warmer light when you’re ready to wind down before bed.

You can choose between three pre-set light modes designed for particular tasks: “Relax,” “Study,” or “Precision” for more focused work. On top of that, there’s a boost button that provides you with 20 minutes of higher intensity light. Slide-touch dimming and color temperature controls let you fine-tune the brightness and warmth to your precise preferences, from 100 to 1000 lux and from warm 2700 kelvin to cool 6500 kelvin.

The Lightcycle has an unusual, vaguely futuristic look thanks to its “3 Axis Glide” motion, which adjusts the position of the light vertically, horizontally, and through 360 degrees without the use of springs or pivots, which themselves can wear out and eventually cause drooping. Finally, there’s the incredible life expectancy of this product: 60 years. The Lightcycle’s Heat Pipe technology efficiently cools the LEDs to keep them in tip top shape for as long as possible.

That kind of quality comes at a hefty price of $599, which is more than many people want to pay for a lamp. But might it be worthwhile, if it’s a lamp you only ever have to buy one time in your entire life? If Dyson can live up to its promises, the Lightcycle represents an important step forward for consumer goods: increasing longevity and cutting back on waste.

The post Dyson’s New Smart Lamp Offers Custom Lighting for Up to 60 Years first appeared on Dornob.

LumiCharge not only lights up our lives brilliantly and without fail, it also understands our desire to reduce the size of our ecological footprint. The company’s newest line was introduced at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, and we were lucky enough to get a closer look at all the new features.

This newest batch of LumiCharge products takes all the charging capabilities we could ever need and packs them into compact fixtures and gadgets that solve multiple solutions while occupying minimal space. These are just a few of our favorites:

LumiCharge LD

If you’ve ever gazed at a big display of LumiCharge’s multi-use desk fixtures and wished they could be combined to meet all your needs in a smaller space, you’re in luck: that vision has finally come to fruition. The LumiCharge LD has an amazing LED lamp as its base of operations and offers a host of enchanting colors and brightness levels. As you enjoy the light show, you’ll also discover the fixture’s built-in charging station, which includes everything you need to keep all your personal electronics ready to perform at optimum levels 24/7: a USB-C, Micro USB, and Lightning charging dock, as well as a 10 W wireless charger. A clock display with a backlight that adjusts to your needs and a Bluetooth speaker pack the lamp with even more of a punch, with voice control capabilities through Google Assistant of Alexa sealing the deal. And all for under $100!

LumiCharge T2W

Before you venture out into this brave new decade, you have to be sure you know all the details. The LumiCharge T2W not only guides the way with a quality LED desk lamp, it also gives you all the details of your day including the date, time, and temperature settings. Even better, it adjusts for daylight savings time all on its own. The lamp gives you a choice of how you see your surroundings, too, with options for Soft White, Bright White, and Soft Yellow (each of which can be adjusted to your preferred level of brightness). There’s also a built-in Bluetooth speaker to surround you with sound to fit your mood, and you can use Alexa or Google voice features to find your favorite tunes instantaneously. Usually $89.99, the T2W is currently on sale for $79.99 through CES.

Lumi/UniDock

Nothing is more frustrating than a dead phone. Even though you know it needs to be charged, the task is often overlooked as the daily challenges of life pop up one after another — but the updated version of the Lumi/UniDock makes it easier than ever before. First of all, you don’t ever have to remove the case for charging. A simple dial lets you choose the type of cable you need to charge, be it iPhone, Samsung, Google, Type C, or Micro USB. For that reason, smaller tablets can also be charged with the Lumi/UniDock. There’s even an extra USB port here so you can charge more than one device at a time, including your smartwatch, MP3 player, iPad, and more. The Lumi/UniDock is also wonderfully compact and complements any decor scheme, so you can use it at work or at home with confidence and ease. And all this peace of mind you’ll enjoy by always being charged is only $49.99.

The post LumiCharge LED Lamps Light Up CES 2020 first appeared on Dornob.

The holiday season is upon us, and people everywhere are heading out in droves to enjoy the sights and sounds of Christmas. From caroling to festive fun and frolicking, there’s certainly no shortage of spirit right now, and one of the most recent trends to emerge at this time of year is that of intricate lighting displays. Whether it’s individual homes coming alive with projections of angels, snowflakes, and Christmas scenes, or plazas, squares, and boulevards decked out with ornaments, decorations, and strings of fairy lights, you’re bound to find fun Christmas lights pretty much anywhere you go. It’s also a great opportunity to go out and be a tourist in your own town.

In honor of all that, we thought we’d check out some of our favorite Christmas light displays from around the globe.

Tokyo, Japan

Japan’s capital is known for its bustling intersections, loud audiovisual spectacles, and quirky character, and this really comes to the fore at Christmas time. Various neighborhoods across the city enter into something of a competition to see who can produce the best winter light installation, giving tourists visiting the city around the holiday season the treat of glittering arrangements in lots of different districts. One of the most popular winter illuminations is located in Midtown, where visitors can see a carpet of blue lights laid out on the ground. The “Starlight Garden” area here also features a whopping 190,000 LED lights.

Las Vegas, Nevada

“America’s Playground” is undoubtedly one of the most extravagant places in the world all year round, but it really outdoes itself when it comes to Christmas lights. The Las Vegas Motor Speedway is a race track that’s turned into a neon tunnel every holiday season, where visitors can venture beyond the famous Strip and ride down the two-and-a-half-mile “Glittering Lights” circuit. All in all, 500 displays appear in the LED setup, so you’re sure to be entertained while you wait for your turn.

Dublin, Ireland

The Irish capital is a great place to visit at any time of year, but lovers of the winter holidays will find that Dublin has a couple extra-twinkly treats in store for Christmas. The city’s famous Christmas lights are switched on every November, but this year the city’s most prominent buildings, including Trinity College, Central Bank, and the Customs House, are used as canvases for projections of Christmassy displays that make for a great walking route for anyone new to the city and looking to explore.

Austin, Texas

The cultural capital of Texas is no stranger to top-notch light shows, as it’s been hosting its “Trail of Lights” event for some 50 years now. Visitors can follow a 2.1-mile-long trail that takes them through the city’s Zilker Park, where an incredible 800 trees are lit up. An additional 50 light displays round out this amazing spectacle, cumulatively taking over 500 volunteers to set up each year. Austin is also home to the Zilker Tree, the self-proclaimed “World’s Tallest Manmade Christmas Tree” that towers 155 feet above the ground.

The post Stunning Christmas Light Displays From Around the World first appeared on Dornob.

Vaguely mushroom-shaped when not in use, the Overcast Light transforms once you turn it on, mimicking the look and feel of a cloud passing in front of the sun. Knauf made the shade from blended paper pulp, providing an uneven texture that controls the transmission of light from the bulb underneath.

“The LED light source is dimmed unconventionally via proximity to the shade, instead of using a dimmable driver. This is done by pulling the leather tab up or down along the side of the cylindrical base, moving the light source closer or further away from the shade,” Knauf explains.

While so many unique and sculptural home furnishings and fixtures tend to be prototypes, Overcast Light is actually available for purchase at 1stdibs for $2,200.

While Knauf has an entire portfolio full of cool furniture and decorative objects, lamps happen to be where his talents truly shine. Another notable piece is the “Alumette Floor Light,” a tall and slender LED lamp created around a structural aluminum form. Instead of using a conventional lamp shade to diffuse the light, Knauf partially encloses the bulb in a metal frame that acts as a wide angle reflector to cast softer light around the room.

The “Lloyd” lamp works in a similar fashion. A panel of LED lights hovers above your desktop, supported by two delicate steel wires sunken into a pedestal base. The panel casts a broad, even beam of light and can be swiveled to illuminate new angles or reflected off the wall for a softer effect.

The bases of floor lamps have to be quite heavy to remain stable, which is fine if you’re shopping from a local store, but gets little trickier when shipping. To address the problem, Knauf designed the “Water Based Lamp,” a collapsible floor lamp that preserves the archetype of the “solid mass” base but weighs much less.

Knauf took inspiration from the outdoor industry to create a base made of welded Duratec fabric, which is commonly used in the construction of inflatable kayaks. You just fill the base with water to keep the lamp upright. The shade is flexible nylon mesh supported by tent pole-style aluminum tubing.

A bio for Knauf on the official IDS Vancouver site reads: “Calen Knauf is a Canadian designer living and working in Vancouver, Canada. Calen studied Industrial Design at Emily Carr University of Art and Design. Shortly after graduating, Calen won best student lighting for his thesis project ‘Standard Lamp’ at Design Plus 2014 in Cologne, Germany. His first produced design was licensed to Esaila in 2012.”

“He has worked closely with life long-friend Conrad Brown from 2013 to 2019 on a range of projects including product design for mass production, furniture, custom editions, interior design, and graphic design. Their work together has won several awards, including The Rising Star Award at Stockholm Furniture Fair 2017 and [the shortlist] for the Dezeen Awards for Lighting Design in 2018.”

You can keep up with Knauf’s work on Instagram.

All photos courtesy of Conrad Brown

The post Overcast Lamp Mimics a Cloud Passing Over the Sun first appeared on Dornob.

The Debut

When the principals of Workstead were pondering the best setting for their new fixtures, they instantly thought of Philip Johnson‘s former “Glass House” property in New Canaan, Connecticut. A Bauhaus-inspired design constructed in the late 1940s, the home has long been hailed as an epicenter of Modernist architecture, packed with multiple remarkable structures accenting Johnson’s incredible selections of art. Since the site seemed to fit right in with the theme of “Archetype,” the Workstead team chose to debut the collection there, installing each fixture in a different part of the house as part of a day-long display.

Robert Highsmith, who co-founded Workstead in 2009 with Stefanie Brechbuehler and Ryan Mahoney, adds: “With Archetype, we were inspired to create a lighting collection through an architect’s lens. I love the idea that Johnson and other Modernists were approaching a lighting fixture as they would a building. Our fixtures embody the same architectural references and proportions — a structure that is fundamentally refined and functional.”

The Collection

To ensure the Archetype project embodied the best and most unique qualities of each architect and designer, Highsmith personally embarked on a research quest. He began with the epochal floor lamps that Philip Johnson had envisioned for the Glass House. He fondly remembers poring over the conversion of signature shapes and proportions from building to lighting fixtures and lamps, stating that he “could see the lineage between their designs of buildings and of lighting. So, when you see a concept like ‘Vault,’ you should imagine Louis Kahn distilling his geometry and grandeur to the scale of a light fixture.”

“Vault,” one of the collection’s three unique fixtures, makes specific mention of Kahn’s Kimbell Art Museum. “Block” and “Gable” round out the bunch, the latter of which astute viewers will easily be able to trace back to Johnson’s work. The intertwined volumes of “Block” have many influencers, despite the fact that Highsmith has previously articulated fondness for Alvar Aalto’s kind, ornamental move toward simplicity. The fixture also employs the exact fabrication found in the atypical table lamps of Marcel Breuer. To add even more variety to the mix, all three fixtures are available in sconce, pendant, and floor-lamp styles, each with your choices of a brass, nickel, or bronze finish.

A Year of Growth and Change

The Archetype project marks the end of a very big year for Workstead. In November 2018, husband and wife Highsmith and Brechbuehler moved their permanent home to a Hudson Valley residence they bought in 2010. Two months later, in January 2019, the company opened a fully-staffed showroom in a refurbished historic building in the city of Hudson to showcase its furniture and lighting designs. Mahoney steers the architecture and interiors business from Brooklyn, while Highsmith and Brechbuehler tackle products and special projects, respectively.

The post Fresh Lighting Collection by Workstead Illuminates Genius of Modernist Architects first appeared on Dornob.

Technological advancements mean there is no longer a direct correlation between the size of an object and the function it can provide. The HUNT23 is out to prove precisely that with what could be defined as the world’s tiniest, coolest multipurpose flashlight.

The HUNT23 gives you the power to see your way through the dark, make basic repairs, and open cans and bottles wherever you might find yourself. The goal was to convert what could have been just another micro flashlight into something more valuable, which for the creators meant packing as much function into the tiny unit as possible. That makes it perfect for a coin purse on date night, or even your pocket on a backpacking trip. The built-in pry bar works as a screwdriver, box knife, can tab puller, bottle opener, and tool for scratching off that winning lottery ticket. And those are just a few of the HUNT23’s 14 total functions.

Of course, there are myriad multipurpose tools on the market, so you might be wondering what it is that makes this one so special. The answer is size. The HUNT23 is very small (tiny actually) and lightweight, making it easier to carry than most other multi-tools. With EDC (everyday carry) in mind, the team wanted to make sure the flashlight could be with you whenever you needed it. The design even eliminates the fear of losing your little companion with a nifty keychain clip for easy transport and retrieval. Alternatively, you can hook it on your sweatshirt or jacket zipper during your early morning run, or wear it as a necklace on a chain.

What exactly do we mean by tiny? The body is a mere 12.5 millimeters long, while the width is 11.5 millimeters. For a visual measurement, that’s about half the length of a regular house key. The multipurpose pry bar tip is just three millimeters wide — perfect when you need to remove the lid from a paint or hot cocoa can. Better yet, the HUNT23 is one multi-use tool that won’t get confiscated at the airport.

The flashlight is touted as one of the brightest lights compared to anything else its size currently on the market. In addition to boasting a bright white light, the HUNT23 has also been equipped with a UV light to illuminate things that might otherwise be hidden. The 100-lumen lightbulb can stream for up to 50,000 hours, powered by three common watch-type batteries that last around 60 hours each before they need replacing. That’s a lot of flashlight time.

While versatility, a compact design, and convenience are all important factors, the HUNT23 is also made from durable grade 5 titanium for long-lasting performance. The metal isn’t the only aspect of it’s durability, either, as it comes with a case that’s both water and fireproof. Put all that together, and it’s kind of indestructible.

Currently a fully-funded Kickstarter campaign, the HUNT23 reached its $6,146 goal in its first six hours online. Today, pledges continue to roll in in support of the unique and versatile design. The campaign ends October 26th, with initial shipments expected to arrive in late November.

The post HUNT23 Flashlight Multi-Tool Sets a New Standard for Small Package Performance first appeared on Dornob.

Emerging technologies like 3D printing and computer-aided parametric design can produce visually stunning results, but sometimes it feels like something’s missing. That ‘something’ is almost always a human touch. When you lose a connection to craftsmanship, you lose a certain soulfulness, too.

Purcell Rodrigues avoids this feeling of emptiness by combining the strength and complexity afforded by technology with the heft and character of much older fabrication techniques, like bronze casting. Unusual and creative, the works offer a refreshing change for those who are tired of seeing the same old midcentury silhouettes rehashed year after year.

He calls his aesthetic “tradition redefined,” offering up the monolithic Seismic cocktail table as a prime example, “the lovechild of antique granite and cutting-edge CNC marble fabrication.”

Other standout designs include the Khepera Bench, which features legs that began as a computer model, “evolved” into physical sample through additive or subtractive manufacturing, and were made into a pattern to create the wax parts for casting. “Then, from the rough ceramic mold, an exquisite object materializes ready for finishing and patina.”

The Phalanx Loveseat and Tray features a soft microfiber cushion tucked into a leather-wrapped frame for both comfort and durability, which reaches around either side to offer two built-in wooden side tables. The result is a sleek silhouette that does away with the need for additional clutter.

The sculptural bronze legs of the Horta Console look like artifacts from Ancient Crete refined for the modern era, stretching up from the ground to support a black marble surface. The striking Bias Hooded Bed includes a multi-dimensional faceted headboard that feels like a protective shelter, and the Wesley Sconce sees a topography of rounded metal plates layered over a light source to intriguing effect.

The designer says he was encouraged to pursue both creative and entrepreneurial skills as a child raised by a graphic designer and a businessman. He says he used to disassemble his toys “to get to the bottom of how things were made, what was inside them, and how they worked. It was about the process of creation, the making.”

Now, with Atelier Purcell, Purcell Rodrigues offers access to his designs to customers in the US and UK via his online store. To see the pieces in person, check out Dennis Miller in New York City, De Sousa Hughes in San Francisco, and Thomas Lavin in Los Angeles and Laguna Beach, California.

“Alexander Purcell Rodrigues Design is an award-winning interdisciplinary design studio based in London and Los Angeles focused on delivering elegant design solutions through a combination of detailed research, a respect for the functional demands of contemporary life, and expertly-sourced materials that combine to interpret and reflect the client’s unique requirements. The studio looks to define a new aesthetic language for the luxury sector.”

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Does furniture have to be comfortable, or even functional, to be worth creating? Most people would say yes, but perhaps the answer depends upon your perspective on the line between art and design. Good art aims to provoke an emotional response, or at least an intellectual inquiry, and design is supposed to be useful. But sometimes that line is blurred.

Copenhagen-based artists Lea Hein and Magnus Pettersen, working together as Pettersen & Hein, love to play with that liminal space. Their collections of strange furniture are unquestionably beautiful, and from some angles, you might see them as functional objects. From others, they look like gallery pieces that should never, under any circumstances, actually be sat upon or used.

The pair asks: “What happens when design is no longer comprised by function but longs for the aesthetic and ethical freedom of art? American artist Richard Artschwager once said, ‘If you sit on it, it’s a chair. If you walk around it and look at it, it’s a sculpture’.”

“Some objects [accommodate] different ways of living and using a space by paying homage to materials, color, and form rather than functional use, thereby taking on a clear unique, bold position, the end-result often being intriguing and extraordinary. When boundaries between design and art are effaced, [the] potential for magic occurs.”

It’s not hard to see that magic in their work. Hein is a furniture designer, and Pettersen is an artist specializing in concrete sculptures. The objects they create are recognizable as lamps, tables, vases, and chaise lounges, but there’s something charmingly unique about each one.

Some, for instance, have faces. Some look like they might serve some sort of arcane purpose known only to a select few. Some are just more fun than average, like a full-length mirror that flows down onto the floor. But they also take mundane items a few steps further than they have to, expanding upon them and embellishing them in a fresh and creative way.

Many of Pettersen and Hein’s boldest designs are from their 2017 collection “Home,” including a set of anthropomorphic tables and wavy mirrors. They said they wanted that furniture to feel psychedelic and alive, representing “who you are both physically and mentally.”

Ultimately, what you get feels like more than you bargained for, but in a good way. Each individual piece is both an eye-catcher and a conversation starter, grand enough to put on a pedestal and illuminate as the focal point of a room.

Pettersen and Hein are arguably at the forefront of a new wave of Danish modern design — one that feels rooted firmly in the 21st century. The recognizable style of their collaborative work is instantly iconic.

“To place yourself outside a category creates new potential,” says Hein in an interview with Disegno. “When working in the space between art and design, you are free from restrictions, [and] there are no rules. Having fewer limitations allows you to work experimentally. It is really exciting to take things from one context and put them in another because you see things in new ways. I think it is about refining and transforming something boring and industrial into something that is more poetic.”

The post Design Duo Specializes in Making the Weirdest Possible Furniture first appeared on Dornob.

This year’s LA Design Festival was truly a celebration of design in all its forms. “From architecture and interiors to graphic, industrial, fashion, set, costume, and experiential design, the LA Design Festival showcases the best of the local design scene, as well as some exciting national and international voices,” reads the festival’s website, and exciting it certainly was. So exciting, in fact, that we just had to round up a few highlights for your perusal:

OASYS House

This prefab unit was on full display at the festival, embodying a new residential typology that’s springing up all over Los Angeles. Yes, ever since California passed a bill in April to recognize ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units), or more colloquially-named “granny flats” as an efficient form of affordable housing, they’ve been showing up more and more around the city. OASYS is just one iteration of this new typology, and besides forming part of the festival, it will also remain in DTLA throughout the summer so that interested parties can come and have a look at the unique installation. Measuring 800 square meters, the house provides the contemporary city dweller with everything they need in a relatively compact and affordable space. The project is a collaboration between Alexis Rochas, StereoBot, and Marvin Windows & Doors, and since it’s a prefab, it can be replicated on almost any site.

ADU Home Tour

As well as being able to check out the OASYS House, festival attendees were also invited on a tour of other ADUs in Los Angeles. The tour included a stop at the OASYS House itself before continuing on to Highland Park, Echo Park, and Mid City. There, a number of architects and designers who have not only designed ADUs, but also live in them, invited guests into their homes to have a look at what occupying one of these tiny homes is actually like.

Radiant Peel Lighting Exhibition

One of our favorite OFFSITE events this year was the Radiant Peel light exhibition, which took place at Simeona Leona near MacArthur Park. The exhibition showed off new work by Sam Thomas, who creates unique light sculptures that recall fruit and other organic materials. “Sam Thomas’ work is deeply insightful; his skillful use of motifs captures his viewers’ attention and compels them to think widely about the world in which they live. In this instance, the Plantain Chandelier connects the politics of food with the context of Los Angeles, inspiring conversations on transnationalism and agri-imperialism,” reads the festival website. And that’s just a taste of what was going on at the actual opening.

Design to End Homelessness

This fascinating talk was given on the Thursday of the festival, and saw product and growth designer Lex Roman speak about the role technology and its creators play in tackling relentless urban issues such like homelessness. It’s no secret that homelessness is increasing around the world in most major cities, and Los Angeles in particular has seen a rising homeless population that’s served as the catalyst for a number of new and innovative housing solutions and typologies. In the talk, Roman addressed the difficulties of solving the homeless crisis, and expanded upon ways that design and technology might best be used going forward.

The post Our Favorites From This Year’s LA Design Festival first appeared on Dornob.

But what if you could capture many of the qualities that make professional systems so effective without putting in any of the hard work? That’s the goal of “Luminous,” a new integrated lighting and sound system by Iranian designer Mohammad Hossein Namayandegi. In order to achieve soft, indirect lighting that feels like it could be coming from the sky and omni-directional sound, this product is loop-shaped and hangs in the air overhead.

Typical home surround sound systems require you to carefully place speakers around the room. With Luminous, as long as you’re sitting beneath it, you can enjoy the same effect without any wires at all. It creates “dome-shaped sound” within the room while also providing illumination thanks to a system of LED light sources and an acrylic diffuser. The light reflects off the ceiling overhead for a uniform, low contrast and slightly muted effect, like daylight diffused through a sheer layer of clouds.

Luminous consists of the loop-shaped lighting and sound unit, as well as a bluetooth audio adapter that allows the user to adjust the lighting and sound wirelessly, as well as stream sound and music from personal devices like phones, game consoles, and televisions. An ambient light sensor automatically adjusts the brightness of the LEDs based on the ambient light level in the room. Twenty small speakers built into the loop output the sound through separate channels at different intensities from a 360-degree radius, mimicking the effect of surround sound.

The product’s website reads: “The main design philosophy of Luminous is to create atmospheres and emotions that the users desire to feel, including peace, excitation, and companionship with friends and colleagues in working or living spaces. On this basis and at the first step, various concepts were generated, and it was concluded that the combination of light and sound in a single product [could] be a practical solution. Our aim was to create a spatial sound system and natural and efficient lighting solution. Accordingly, and during the second phase, sound and light generation and perception in nature were investigated.”

“Ergonomic guidelines for lighting design [were] also studied. Then, applicable technologies, the design trend of the current samples, and the product environment were analyzed. In this point (phase three), the limitations and potentials for further development became clear and design criteria identified. During the next phase, various ideas were generated, evaluated, and repeatedly modified. Finally, a detailed model of the selected idea was produced and presented.”

Winner of a 2019 Silver A’ Design Award, the Luminous Lighting and Sound System is a pretty cool innovation that could give us a hint at what to expect from home electronics in the near future.

The post Luminous Loop-Shaped Lighting Doubles as a Sound System first appeared on Dornob.