KithKin

Author Archive : Guest Author

10 Minutes until closing….

Friday, October 2nd, 2009

If like me you have found yourself visiting 100% on the last day of design week or have scheduled an hour to trawl the contents of Earls Court two, then there are three things that you must see before you leave- all doable in ten minutes.

10 Minutes
If you haven’t already seen… from UCA the home made rotational moulding machine, a reaction to the way in which materials and processes are taught by two recent graduates, Andrew Duffy and Craig Tyler. Powered by a power drill, it’s a nod to the Heath Robinson types amongst us. Already exhibited earlier this year at new designers they are ‘on tour’ shortly exhibiting in both Birmingham and Newcastle. Watch this space…

7 Minutes
Give new materials a squeeze and Chris Lefteri’s 100% Materials stand. My favourites are #1123, #1002, #92. 150 new materials on show without the hard sell.

5 Minutes
On the way out pop into ‘Ten’, a group of 10 designers who annually exhibit at 100%. This year they tackle the ‘sustainability issue’, using digital processes to re invent used materials. The results are eclectic but considerate. Not a whiff of shabby chic!

…Home time.

Text: Laura Hasting

The Adventures of Jim the Sustainably-Challenged Designer

Monday, September 28th, 2009

Hot off the press, last minute inspiration from Olivia Lee.

jim1

jim2
jim3

“The V&A Symposium left a deep impression in my mind with regards to this whole sustainability issue. I actually wanted to do a written piece but I couldn’t put the time together and the illustrations articulate some of my thoughts/observations in a faster and more light-hearted way.”

By: Oliva Lee

Social housing with a soul

Friday, September 25th, 2009

I grew up in an area of Brooklyn, New York, called Fort Greene, a beautiful neighbourhood but flanked by some of the worst social housing in the city.

In America we refer to social housing as the ‘projects’, and they are places to be avoided: a collection of multi-story brick apartment blocks with small, grilled windows and concrete surroundings, devoid of emotion. Although the aesthetic might change slightly, I’ve found that when it comes to social housing, this environment tends to be the norm in most of the major cities around the world.
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Sir Paul Smith wins design medal

Friday, September 25th, 2009

Amidst pricy bits of so-called “design art” (Stuart Haygarth chandelier, £12,000 to £18,000; Tom Price Meltdown chair, £4,000 to £6,000), Sir Paul Smith collected the London Design Medal at Phillips de Pury auction house in Victoria on Wednesday evening. Sir John Sorrell called him a “design hero” so we got two for the price of one.

general-sir-paul-smith

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Welcome to the download revolution…

Wednesday, September 9th, 2009

Barbara Chandler is on the selection panel for 100% Design, and was asked to nominate her favourite object for display at the show.   She explains why she has selected the Tetris chair as an example of what 100% Design means - and has meant - to her.
tetris
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