Last week our store in Fulham Road played host to a surreal piece of performance art inspired by the circuit board/wiring theme of their windows – (inspired in turn by the award-winning Plumen light bulb).
It was created by film maker and costume designer Lucy Butler, with Jo Stobbs playing the mysterious and mischief-making piece of wiring.
Here are some photos of Jo doing the performance art in the Chelsea windows.
The display itself looks suitably fabulous – with all our favourite Christmas gift ideas dotted in amongst the bright red wiring- the instantly recognisable Plumen lightbulbs rising up like triffids at varying points around the grid.
And ooh – is that some of the brand new Conran Bath & Body range we can spy down there at the bottom…?!
The Thomas Heatherwick Spun chairs (last seen here in our post on the Milan Furniture Fair 2010) were a hit – you really have to trust that you don’t fall backwards onto your head!
Still, they are really fun and surely a great solution for outside – available to buy at the Design Museum shop!
There’s more than one cycling enthusiast in our offices and the Transport section gave us plenty of food for thought when it came to new designs and innovations in this category.
We became slightly obsessed with the videos of people using the rather unusual but very fun looking Yike Bikes
– but some were less impressed by the new ‘super commuter’ offering from Vanmoof - which while very practical (especially loving the integrated heavy-duty lock) was deemed to be slightly ugly – still, anything to stop your bike getting nicked!
In general the Graphics category was much admired, not in the least the eventual winner, the amazingly simple, almost Feng-Shui type images for a Swedish Cookery book: Homemade is Best by Forsman & Bodenfors for IKEA- carefully composed graphic still lifes that bring the ingredients centrestage.
If you missed Designs of the Year do not fret there’s an equally brilliant exhibition on Kenneth Grange (you’ll know more of his products than you think) – and watch this space for details of a very special exhibition later in the year…all about Terence!
Celebrating his 80th birthday in September, it’s entitled THE WAY WE LIVE NOW and will feature work from over 60 years including original habitat pieces, Terence’s sketches and bestselling products from over the eras.
We’ve caught up with Sam Wilkinson, designer of the Plumen Light bulb which has just won ‘Designs of the Year’ - known as ‘the oscars of the design world’ to those in the trade – at the Design Museum.
Sam is an old Conran friend having worked here on a couple of projects over the last year and we are delighted his and product company Hulger’s design has won. Here’s Sam on the right pictured here with Michael-George Hemus of Hulger.
What gave you the idea for the Plumen light bulb?
The idea of doing a ‘designer’ lightbulb originally came from Hulger in 2007, who then approached me to design it. Most low energy bulbs have such a cold form as if designed by an engineer. We aimed to put a little ‘joy’ back into the form.
The shapes were inspired by patterns made by a rhythmic gymnasts ribbon and filaments of early incandescent bulbs.
How does it feel to win ‘Designs of the Year’?
It is very exciting. It was a bit of a surprise to even win our category as we were up against some amazing products including the Ipad and Dyson fan.
What other pieces from ‘Designs of the Year’ did you like or admire?
I really like Thomas Heatherwick’s UK pavilion and the Branca Chair by Industrial facility
What’s your favourite piece of design?
Always a very difficult question, as its always changing. I love the Bouroullecs ‘Slow’ chair for Vitra. It’s beautiful, lightweight and very technical due to its special knitted sling fabric.
What are you working on at the moment (if you can say!)?
Working on quite a few pieces, including a chair, candelabra, parasol, credenza and some new lights. Also a new production version of the Vessel light for DecodeLondon will launch soon.
What would be your dream project?
To work on a project with Vitra would be amazing or to work some large scale project like a hotel, where I can design the environment as well as the furniture!
Tuesday saw the arrival of another film crew here at Shad Thames to film Terence and his wise words.
This time it was the BBC to get Terence’s thoughts on something very close to his heart – manufacturing in the UK.
“Do we really want to live in a country that doesn’t make anything?”
See what he has to say here – around the 28 min 45 secs mark!**
**Sadly iPlayer only lasts for a few days so we can’t see him in anymore…!
In a nut-shell Terence believes very strongly that we can’t just be a country of Service Industries – we must continue to make things too. Something he puts into practice whenever possible – not in the least when it comes to making furniture – with his UK furniture makers Benchmark …
His comments were part of a report on the Design of the Year award at The Design Museum just around the corner from our Head Office. The winner was announced yesterday – with the Plumen energy saving light bulb scooping the top prize.
Read more about the Design of the Year exhibition right here next week…plus we are hoping to get some comments from Sam Wilkinson, the bulb’s designer… watch this space.
