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.
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.
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- 28 December 2014
– 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