Emma Thomas: 12/01/2008

Thursday, 18 December 2008

Me-projects

FELTRON, Nicolas. 2006. 'The Feltron 2006 Annual Report' (extract). Available at: http://feltron.com/index.php?/content/2006_annual_report/P4/ [accessed 13/01/08]

Some interesting articles about the blurring of boundaries between design and conceptual art: including the increasing trend for designer monographs and self-initiated works, can be found on Johnson Banks' website, as referenced below:

BANKS, Jason. 2008. 'Thought For The Week: 18/12/08 Me-projects'. johnsonbanks.co.uk. Available at: http://www.johnsonbanks.co.uk/thoughtfortheweek/index.php?thoughtid=413 [accessed 18/12/08]

BANKS, Jason. 2008. 'Thought For The Week: 17/09/08 Dreaming about designer monographs'. johnsonbanks.co.uk. Available at:
http://www.johnsonbanks.co.uk/thoughtfortheweek/index.php?thoughtid=382 [accessed 18/12/08]

Thursday, 11 December 2008

Picking Up On Themes From Previous Work

Some of my recent research is picking up on themes that I started playing with during the short chair design project shown in the image above, back in 2005. (The actual poster also included 3d models and experiments which unfortunately don't appear here).

Richard Sweeney

I’ve been researching patterns and movement and have been thinking about using origami and paper folding to explore these ideas. Through this, I came across Richard Sweeney, and artists who’s work I’d not seen before.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/richardsweeney/tags/sculpture/

Sweeney uses paper and card to create patterns, objects, sculptures and other creative works. Projects have included a series of sculptural works in paper commissioned by Selfridges for display in the flagship store windows, Orchard Street, London, January 2008…

http://www.flickr.com/photos/richardsweeney/sets/72157603387509075/,

and a paper sculpture installation at the Stamp Staircase, Somerset House, London in October 08…

http://www.flickr.com/photos/richardsweeney/

Lighting and photography also play an important role in his work.

A Note On Pattern

I'm drawn to geometric pattern, both singly and in combinations. Take a quick wander around my home and you can see that pattern is evident both in the objects dotted around the house and the décor itself, as shown in the pictures above.

Saturday, 6 December 2008

A Note On Colour

There seems to have been a sudden injection of bright, juicy - almost saccharine - colour into my journal over the last couple of days… and I’m really enjoying it!

I’ve always had a strong awareness of colour and it plays an important part in the design choices I make; yet in my commercial capacity, opportunities to really push the boundaries and have fun with colour have been relatively limited. In mainstream graphic design, colour is used consciously and intelligently but it tends to be treated with caution – usually resulting in safe and sparing application of colour.

This MA could be my opportunity to reacquaint myself with a more experimental, expressive and dominant use of colour.

Snog

I've had these pictures bookmarked since I first came across them in June. Created by Ico Design and Cinimod Studio, Snog sells frozen yogurt.

Columbian architect Pablo Uribe and his US-born business partner Rob Baines '...wanted it to be British, fun, young and edgy,' says Ico Design's in-house writer Gerard Ivall, 'and that's where the name came from.'Visually, this has been translated into a 20 m2 space which aims 'to evoke the feeling of summer', says Uribe. Hence the floral wall graphics by Ico's Japanese illustrator Akira Chatani, and Cinimod's bright, stylish interiors.Marcel Wanders' Shitake latticed stools sit on 'English lawn' vinyl flooring, and are illuminated by a digital 'sky'.

Cinimod director Dominic Harris sees the ceiling as key to creating the 'perpetual summer' feel. 'More than 3000 individually controllable LEDs are deployed behind a Barrisol stretched plastic ceiling to create a bright, lightbox video surface,' he says. 'Digitally captured and manipulated clouds move gently above the store, their colour and speed determined by the time of day.'

Reference:
DOWDY, Clare. 2008. ‘The Taste Test’.
Design Week, 23(25), pp. 18-19.

Friday, 5 December 2008

I Want...

...to play with beautiful things all day like these guys do!

http://www.iwantdesign.co.uk/

Interactive Dining At Inamo

Inamo's website tells us…

“Inamo is a pioneering Oriental fusion restaurant and bar where the control of the dining experience is placed firmly in your hands. Our mission is to provide delicious cuisine with charming and timely service in a warm and vibrant atmosphere.

At the core of Inamo is our interactive ordering system. Diners place orders from an illustrated food and drinks menu projected on to their table surface. You’ll set the mood, discover the local neighbourhood, and even order a taxi home. Our dedicated and friendly staff are always on hand to help with whatever you need.”

DuPont Corian was specified for the interactive tabletops at Inamo. Graphics and photographically illustrated menus are projected onto the Corian tables. Using a circular touchpad recessed into the tabletop, customers can then navigate their way through the dishes and send their order directly to the kitchen. They can also change the ambiance by selecting from differently coloured and patterned ‘virtual’ tablecloths, play games, watch a web-cam in the kitchen, browse local area information and even order a cab, all from the comfort of their tables.

http://www.inamo-restaurant.com/

http://www.iconeye.com/index.php?option=com_product&controller=product&task=view&cid[]=412