Best of 2014 #design

From a a new concept of footwear that perfectly match with foot by “dipping” it to a vehicle that promote a new concept of urban cycling in social groups normally excluded from it, here are this year’s best design stories.

Nendo, Paper-Brick. Photo Ayao Yamazaki
In our selection of the best design stories 2014, fifteen projects and a reflection on responsibilities and opportunities of the makers movement grafted onto our Italian tradition.


Nendo, Paper-Brick: Nendo designed the set of paper blocks Paper-Brick that allows to create a pseudo-3D object by stacking tricolor blocks that seem three-dimensional.

Take-off light: German label Fifti-fifti designed Take-off light, a paper lampshade with a very fine pattern of laser stitches which can be enlarged at will.

Moor, Metropolis: Milanese designer Giacomo Moor has created a limited-edition furniture system for Post Design featuring that combines strictly geometric lines with warm walnut.

Fondue Slipper: Japanese designer Satsuki Ohata presented at Salone Satellite 2014 Fondue Slipper, a new concept of footwear that perfectly match with foot by “dipping” it.

Philippe Starck, Axor: organic design and an aesthetic of transparency characterise the new mixer by the French designer, in a combination of practicality and an urge to surprise.

Paolo Ulian, PiùOmeno: PiùOmeno (+O-) LED marble Lamp is the latest project by Paolo Ulian and Moreno Ratti, showed  at the Triennale Design Museum in the exhibition “Italian design beyond the crisis”.

Carbon Fiber Chair: made entirely of carbon fiber, the Carbon Fiber Chair designed by Michael Young for Coalesse combines materiality with technology to express its structural form and 21st century craft.

Ceramic tables: the German designer Elisa Strozyk realised a round side-tables series with smoke-like patterns on the ceramic top and copper or steel legs.

Sand Packaging: made entirely of sand and natural minerals, Sand packaging by alien&monkey explores the emotions and psychology behind the process of discovering a gift.

Raiooo, three-wheeled mobility: conceived by MA Integrated Design students of Viana do Castelo Polytechnic, Raiooo is a vehicle that promote a new concept of urban cycling in social groups normally excluded from it.

3D Printed Ceramics: with his Functional 3D Printed Ceramics Olivier van Herpt is looking to “bake in” the randomness, uniqueness into the process in order to every time get a truly unique piece.

Vacuum Forming Shoe: Lou Moria designed – as part of her project “last 21986” – a pair of shoes manufactured using vacuum forming technology: cheap, easy, quick manufactured and fully recyclable.

Magnetic Motion: by thoroughly examining the representation of dynamic forces of attraction and repulsion, Iris van Herpen fuses nature and technology in her SS 15 ready-to-wear collection.

Epo Bicycles: Bob Schiller’s graduation project Epo bicycle, inspired by the way cars are produced, revives the local industry and brings production back to the Netherlands.

Kinematics Dress: the Museum of Modern Art has acquired the Kinematics Dress developed by Nervous System along with the 4D printing system that created it for their permanent collection.

The makers and Italian design tradition: Maker Faire’s second edition, that will be opening tomorrow in Rome, offers a chance to reflect on responsibilities and opportunities of the makers movement grafted onto our Italian tradition.

Top: Nendo, Paper-Brick. Photo Ayao Yamazaki

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