I loved this year’s designersblock. Despite tired feet and a mind buzzing with all the design I’d seen so far, it managed to reignite my curiosity, my sense of adventure and my willingness to get involved and explore. The size and shape helped – it was set in a meandering layout that got away from the straight up and down aisles of many trade shows, but small enough that even I didn’t get lost. The building helped too – the Festival Village, a part of the Southbank Centre that hasn’t been open to the public before.
But more than anything, it was the work – an eclectic collection of art, design, experiments and everything in between. The highlight for me was the lovely Lauren Baker – a young lady who chucked in her career to become an artist after having a vision during a visit to a shaman while travelling. And we should all be glad that she did – her work is exciting, challenging and a perfect balance of dark and feminine.
It wouldn’t be a design show without a chair or two, and just when you thought you’d seen every iteration of seating design, along comes Vanja Buzdulj with Rough & Ready; an experimental approach to furniture design that celebrates the unfinished, the imperfect and the human.
This chair is made from tailored cured sheets of wool felt with rubber embedded into them to provide both the surface decoration and the strength required for the job. The sheets are assembled and then held in place with rope.
Something a little more expected, at least at first glance, was this Utrem Lux lamp, launched at the show. The collection has been hand made from glass bottles that Degross found discarded behind their West London studio, and wood offcuts donated by their next-door neighbour who just happens to be a wood merchant.
The New English, designersblock regulars, were on fine form with a collection of one-off porcelain hearts customised by artists. I liked this one by Miso for its simple charm.
Meanwhile, Coralie Bonnet was taking embroidery experimental, using every material and surface she could get her needles into, in a bid to rejuvenate this traditional craft form. The image below shows embroidery into wood.
Tortie Hoare and Natalie Brady met while studying and have been working together ever since. Their handmade pieces combine old techniques with contemporary design elements – I love the leather fronts on these drawers with handles worked into them.
Finally, I really enjoyed some of the more experimental installations at designersblock, including Love Me Bender by Breaded Escalope, which was just outside the venue.
Breaded Escalope say: “Love Me Bender deals with the process of steam-bending materials and entire objects. The applied technique aims to simplify industrial methods to suit the spirit of a growing DIY – community.” The result is an almost parasitic design aesthetic which is strangely compelling.
Further reading for the especially geeky:
- out and about :: V&A (LDF12)
- out and about :: london design festival in pictures (part 1)
- out and about :: london design festival in pictures (part 2)
- out and about :: london design festival in pictures (part 3)
