The 2010 International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA) were awarded recently at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan. While most of the awards went to non-Scandinavian designers, we wanted to make special note of the two Scandinavian winners (and then point out one really great design from a non-Scandinavian designer).
If you’re not familiar with the IDEA Awards, let me give you a little background…
Each year, thousands of designers submit pieces to be judged. The designs are judged based on innovation, benefit to the user, benefit to society and natural ecology, benefit to the client, visual appeal and aesthetics, usability testing (i.e. function and reliability) and implementation.
This year, there were 1,900 entrants from designers representing 28 different countries. While most of the pieces submitted were impressive, only 38…
Scandinavian design began in the early 1900’s but gained wider recognition (and approval) in the 1950’s. The goal of this design movement is simple… to design beautiful, minimalistic pieces that are as wonderful to use as they are to look at.
They also sought to design pieces that could be mass produced as cheaply as possible without sacrificing quality. With strong “post-modern” ideals, the Scandinavian designers looked for ways to make their designs affordable for all… not just the wealthy and influential.
Scandinavian Design really flourished between 1951-1970 as a result of the “Lunning Prize.” The Lunning Prize was created to acknowledge excellence in…
While Muuto is a Danish company, its name comes from the Finnish word, “muutos,” which can be translated to mean “fresh perspective” (or change).
Muuto handpicks from the very best Nordic designers and challenges them to come up with a design that embodies the essence of Modern Scandinavian Design… something aesthetically pleasing and perfectly functional (and in keeping with Mutto’s mission… something fresh!)
Many top Scandinavian designers like, Harri Koskinen, Ole Jensen, Louise Campbell, Norway Says (among many others) have designed for Muuto and more are accepting the challenge.
They primarily design furnishings for the modern home and a few of these include…
Norwegian industrial designers Vibeke Skar and Ida Noemi Vidal created these wonderful ceramic pendants that not only provide light, but convey the story of Norwegian traditions, the contrast between the cold weather and the warm clothing and homes. Story draws inspirations from the fact of going backwards to go forwards.
The lamps are called Story, which have been decorated with Norwegian patterns sandblasted into their unglazed porcelain finish. It’s a modern look on a very traditional pattern. It sheds new light upon traditional Norwegian knitting patterns on woolen sweaters and gives a new and softer expression to the cold hard porcelain surface.
According to the designers, here is Storys, story: Once upon a time there was a porcelain lamp called Story. Born in Norway between…
Time for contemplation and calmness – Normann Copenhagen presents Valdemar. Valdemar – a chair in a simple and modern design. The chair’s characteristic sides form a private sphere that gives room for a cozy atmosphere and relaxation. Valdemar is full upholstered and the chair legs are covered with fabric to form an aesthetic graphic whole.
Valdemar is designed by industrial designers Martin Kechayas and Christian Nørgaard. The designers focus has been on designing pieces of furniture with beautiful graphic expression and great sitting comfort. The chair’s inside has an organic round form in contrast to the sharp and edged outside of the chair, which makes the chair exciting both visually and in use. Martin Kechayas and Christian Nørgaard explain:” Nowadays there is a huge need for…
The recent issue of Architectural Digest Russia features the wonderful Breakfast in Bed Tray by Maria Dahlgren.
A wonderful collection we must say!
Congrats to Maria!
Denmark has a proud design history, but the great masters of the past such as Arne Jacobsen, Hans J. Wegner and Poul Kjærholm have also overshadowed their young successors. This is no longer the case. A new generation of creative and skilled craftspeople and designers have demonstrated that they are capable of taking up the mantle.
14 of these innovative and talented craftspeople and designers have been handpicked to participate in DANISH CRAFTS’ exhibition MINDCRAFT10. All the participating craftspeople and designers have been asked to create completely new works that reflect their unique knowledge of materials and materiality. The unique value that is generated when the right material interacts with the right form at the right time makes a significant difference and is of vital importance…
Posted January 26th, 2010by holly@huset1 Comment »
We just returned from Stockholm’s Formex Gift show, and what a whirlwind trip is was! Just a few days to see all the new items offered for Spring, as well as meeting some of our vendors and making new connections too.
The theme for this years Formex show was Creative Flow, and according to designer Jan Rundgren, who created the main exhibition”Creative Spaces”, is summed up by: “Studio trends are precisely with the times, the individualistic style feels like one of the most powerful things at the moment. We’re looking for something unique in both objects and expressions. The spaces are bohemian, spontaneously decorated and show that a creative process is taking place” Jan’s exhibition space uses both…
Posted January 13th, 2010by holly@husetNo Comments »
Designer Anders Arhøj from design studio Venom Yum, and ceramist Louise Gaarmann, co-founder of LYNfabrikken.dk, have collaborated on a reusable ceramic series where they give discarded cups new life by decorating them with graphics from Alice in Wonderland.
We think Alice in Wonderland is an exciting whimsical universe which includes a tea party and many other fun things. Anders has designed and drawn all the characters, and by a special technique, transferred the motives to the ceramics.
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