Balance, Design
April 5, 2013
By Amy Feezor
Take a look at what we’ve been bookmarking this week.
1. The Eames Aluminum Group Management Chair in action at the studio of letterer Erik Marinovich via Warby Parker Class Trip.
2. Inthralld’s tour of visual artist and designer Michelle de la Vega’s garage-to-home conversation (it’s an astounding 250 square feet).
3. This duplex apartment by Paris’s Place de la Madeleine designed and owned by architect Michael Herrmanon (via materialicious).
4. The family home of designer Alice Flynn — a mix of masculine and feminine style — in Avalon NSW Australia, featured on Design*Sponge.
5. More from Down Under: this beautiful home blending indoor and outdoor spaces at Homedit.com.
6. The roundup of smart concrete interiors at Design Milk.
7. This project by MASS Design Group to develop housing for doctors at the Butaro Hospital in Rwanda (via Architizer).
8. The installation created by E/B Office at the Teton County Library in Wyoming that physically responds to the Internet (via The Fox Is Black).
9. Dwell’s look at a modern tree house in Belgium by design firm Baumraum.
10. Did you catch this recent post by Ryan Anderson, Herman Miller Director of Future Technology, at the Drucker Institute’s blog, Drucker Exchange?
Featured in photo: Branca Chair by San Hecht and Kim Colin
Design
April 4, 2013
By Amy Feezor
Three years ago, we featured the home office of Kate Bingaman-Burt, an illustrator and professor of graphic design based in Portland, Oregon. Hers was a vibrant, character-packed workspace that seemed to have a particular sense of joy when it came to color and design. So when we heard she moved into a shared studio, we had to see the result. Get a taste of her new space in this quick tour. Read more
Balance, Design
April 3, 2013
By Jamie Latendresse
Based in Charleston, South Carolina, designer Jay Fletcher surfs when he has spare time — or he would if he had any spare time. The creative mind behind this week’s Playlist spends his working hours creating full-scale identities for companies large and small, near and far. Jay’s thoughtful and precise designs are both visually arresting and effective in their communication. Now check out the arresting sound waves emanating from his superbly appointed (with Embody and Eames Molded Plastic chairs) workspace. Listen up.
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Design, Products
April 2, 2013
By Amy Feezor
The pieces that comprise designers Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec’s Steelwood Chair began with Eugenio Perazza, the founder of Italian design firm (and Herman Miller partner) Magis. Perazza wanted an inexpensive wooden chair with simple joints of pressed metal. The Bouroullecs liked the idea, but wanted to take it a step further. The brothers aimed for a design that would be cost-competitive with plastic chairs, yet have a long life span and age well, developing a patina from use and wear.
The result is a straightforward design that thoughtfully combines two traditional materials: steel and wood. Skilled metalworkers use a series of complex mechanical procedures to gradually shear, coin, curve, and cut the metal pieces. The legs and round seat are milled out of solid beech. Together, the materials form a chair that is strong and durable with a natural warmth. Easy to assemble and offered in a selection of painted finishes, its subtle silhouette adapts to a number of environments. “We tried to make a chair that could fit a number of people, and it doesn’t look like a chair for rich or poor, woman or man—it’s universal,” explains Erwan. “Just made in metal and wood that will last and grow old quite nicely. The chair says, ‘Believe me that I’m a chair that will last.’”
Read more about the design’s manufacturing process at Magis here. To add the chair — or any of the Steelwood family, including its stool and table — to your dining or working space, visit the Herman Miller store.
Design, Products, Technology
April 1, 2013
By Jamie Latendresse
When the weather is right, why confer only in the conference room? These days, a little inspiration from Mother Nature might be just the thing. Join your team for some out-of-the-box thinking out of doors with these six handsome solutions for meeting outside.
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Balance, Design
March 29, 2013
By Amy Feezor
Here’s a rundown of what we’ve been reading over the past week.
1. This Charles and Ray Eames-inspired post about creative couples (including former Playlister Jenna Park and husband Mark Sopchak) at the Etsy Blog.
2. The dynamic interior of the JWT office in Amsterdam co-designed by Alrik Koudenburg and RJW Elsinga via Ideas to Steal.
3. Edina Sæther’s short series of color-splash photos of the Chair_One by Konstantin Grcic (via Nordic leaves).
4. A look inside the sketchbooks of 10 terrific creatives at Co.Design.
5. The new (and free) Photo-Lettering App by House Industries spotted at Grain Edit.
6. Nice refresher at freshome: “10 Basic Facts You Should Know About Modular Homes.”
7. Dwell’s listing of its favorite Eames films.
8. The stunning and sculptural Hewlett House by MPR Design Group in Sydney, Australia, covered by URDesign Magazine.
9. These treehouses of reclaimed wood by self-taught Japanese designer Takashi Kobayashi (via designboom).
10. “‘I’m Google’ by Dina Kelberman: A Visual Exploration of Google Image Search” at Colossal.
Featured in photo: Air-Chairs and Air-Tables by Jasper Morrison
Design
March 28, 2013
By Amy Feezor
Designers Jean Lee and Dylan Davis run the multidisciplinary Ladies & Gentlemen Studio from their home/studio (a mid-century duplex bought with two other friends) in Seattle, Washington. This latest tour, courtesy of Apartment Therapy Tech, takes a peek inside their space — a vibrant mix of spacious work surfaces, open shelving, tools, decorative objects (their own designs and otherwise) and a touch of vintage Eames. Read more
Balance, Design
March 27, 2013
By Jamie Latendresse
Founded in 2009 by Timo Wong and Priscilla Lui, Singapore-based Studio Juju designs and develops products, furniture, physical spaces, and more. Focused on creating pleasant and innovative human interactions, Timo and Priscilla were selected as 2011 “Designers of the Future” at Design Miami/ and have collaborated with W Hotels, among others. This week’s Playlist offers us a pleasant interaction with Studio Juju’s listening habits. Put your ears on.
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Design
March 26, 2013
By Amy Feezor
Over the weekend, Herman Miller partnered with architecture, design, planning, and consulting firm Gensler for the 2013 Dining by Design fundraiser in New York City. The annual event, hosted by DIFFA, invites top designers to create one-of-a-kind dining installations to support the organization’s mission to provide direct care for people living with HIV/AIDS and preventative education for those at risk. Read more
Design, Products
March 25, 2013
By Jamie Latendresse
Alright, so it will be a little late (thanks, Mr. Groundhog). But with spring’s inevitable arrival comes the start of sidewalk café season. Welcome the warmth with these six great ways to drink and dine on outdoor design.
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