PHOTOCHROMIA by Madison Maxey

ABOUT

Photochromia is a project from “The Crated” a design studio which Madison Maxey is a part of it. For this project she worked with a company called Print All Over ( digital printing partners) to create clothing that changes patterns in response to light. The trick: photochromatic inks, which are made up of molecules that turn transparent when exposed to sunlight. The technology has been around since the mid-1800s, yet it still feels futuristic when applied to clothing. The clothing line includes baseball caps, T-shirts, sweatshirts, sweatpants, backpacks, and more.

CREATOR

Madison Maxey is a around designer. She builds prototypes, writes codes and likes in generally to experiment at the intersection of design and technology. Her interests lie between 2nd generation wearable technology, additive manufacturing and computational design. Her main focus is The Crated a Innovation studio focused on developing 2nd generation wearable technology. They Believe that the key to productive wearable tech lies within the realm of fiber science. With this in mind, they focus on performance & responsive materials and soft circuitry.

RULES/RESTRICTIONS

One of the most important rule in this project is the fact that she could realize this project with the digital printing partners Print all over me. A Online platform where everybody is able to collaborate, create and produce in real world. Another rule is the fact that Photochromia’s technological abilities are pretty basic; disappearing ink doesn’t perform nearly as many sophisticated tasks as some of Maxey’s competitors, like Ralph Lauren’s Polo Tech Shirt, which tracks biometric data from the wearer. she thinks that opening up how we think of wearable tech with projects like hers and others will help prepare people for what wearables might look like in the future.

COMMENTS

This kind of Projects are very investing in the way the designers work with new technologies and processes to create new and new ideas for the future living. For me it is wonderful that we  live now in the beginning of a new post digital era where old knowledge, techniques can be combined with new never before seen technologies to create individual and innovative projects with we are able to continue through open sources and platforms.

Links

http://www.madisonmaxey.com

https://paom.com

Of Instruments and Archetypes by Studio Unfold

 

ABOUT

A range of wireless digital measuring instruments; a calliper, measuring tape and protractor. Measurements of physical objects are transferred in realtime to an on-screen digital 3d model on which it needs to fit. Through this project, measuring becomes something without numbers, but with accurate precision; measuring becomes making. These instruments can then be used in an application where archetypical, parametric objects can be customised with exact measurements and materialised by digital production techniques such as 3D printing.

CREATOR

Studio Unfold is a design studio from Antwerpen witch ask a lot about the future role of a designer and how is it changing in a time when design and manufacturing become increasingly more digitized? This question is key to understanding the work of design studio Unfold. The studio, founded in 2002 by Claire Warnier and Dries Verbruggen after they graduated from the Design Academy Eindhoven, develops projects that investigate new ways of creating, manufacturing, financing and distributing in a changing context.

RULES/RESTRICTIONS

One of the typical ways/ rules how unfold is working is the fact that they often collaborating with a vast network of kindred spirits and specialists, so the collaboration is the most important thing in there projects. The try to merging aspects of the pre-industrial craft economy with high tech industrial production methods and digital communication networks which makes them to a perfect example for a innovative and experimental open design office.

COMMENTS

I really like this project because they try to make a bridge between old craftsman tools from the past and new digital production ways like 3D printing. The Idea to create a digital measuring instruments; a calliper, measuring tape and protractor is really clever because in future we will need this kind of tools to manufacture our own products etc. Unfold  is also nominated with this project for the prestigious Designs of the Year award issued by Design Museum London!

LINKS

http://unfold.be

Second collection by Vík Prjónsdóttir

ABOUT: Woolen blanket collection by Icelandic design collective Vík Prjónsdóttir.

CREATOR: VÍK PRJÓNSDÓTTIR consists of Egill Kalevi Karlsson, Thurídur Rós Sigurthorsdóttir, Hrafnkell Birgisson, Brynhildur Pálsdóttir and Gudfinna Mjöll Magnúsdóttir, five Icelandic designers who work with product design, art, fashion and food design.

RULES: All the pieces in the collection are inspired in some way or another from Icelandic customs, mythology and the country’s characteristic climate.

COMMENTS: Collection is beautiful and the same time playful which I really like. The blankets seems to be very high quality and handmade and I would definitely buy one of those to myself.

LINKS: http://www.dezeen.com/2010/03/23/second-collection-by-vik-prjonsdottir/

Cover collection by Daphna Laurens

ABOUT: Dutch designers Daphna Laurens have created a series of storage containers that partially conceal their contents behind metal grilles. The covers can be separated from the bowls to fill them, or they can be used singly as open containers.

CREATOR: Daphna Laurens

RULES: Using material; aluminium and cork to create a series of storage containers.

COMMENTS: I think this is a really clever and nice idea to combine three different materials by creating a totally new kind of containers.

LINKS: http://www.daphnaisaacs.nl/index.php?/objects/cover/

2015 Furniture Collection by Colonel

ABOUT: Isabelle Gilles and Yann Poncelet, founders of French design brand Colonel, have prepaired a collection using traditional craft techniques such as woven rattan and marquetry with colourful accents. Colonel´s 2015 collection comprises a sideboard, a wardrobe, a table lamp, a set of pendant lamps and an armchair.

CREATOR: Colonel

RULES /RESTRICTIONS: Their key inspiration for the collection was to use traditional techniques and craftmanship like caning and marquetry and to mix them with light wood and bright colours, to make it more contemporary,

COMMENTS: I really like the collection: it is light and simple but yet really interesting. Furniture has touch of scandinavian style mixed with 60´s style and I love that their main idea was to use traditional techniques and craftmanship.

LINKS: http://www.moncolonel.fr/en/

Rope Masks by Studio Bertjan Pot

ABOUT

The rope masks from studio Bertjan Pot came out of the idea to tell stories, this started as a material experiment. As he wanted to find out by stitching a rope together to make a large flat carpet. Instead of flat, the samples got curvy. When he was about to give up on the carpet, his work partner Vladi came up to him with the idea of ​​shaping the rope into masks. The possibilities of this idea turned out to be endless, so he’s meeting new faces every day.

CREATOR

Is the dutch product designer Bertjan Pot (probably better known as Random Light). In his way to work he always starts with a material research, which is basically the starting point of each product created by Studio Bertjan Pot. The outcome is usually an interior product showing a fascination for techniques, structures, patterns and colors. Most experiments start quite impulsively by a certain curiosity for how things would function or how something would look. From there Pot takes on challenges with manufacturers to explore possibilities and push the boundaries a bit. The reward for each challenge is a new one.

RULES/RESTRICTIONS

The rope masks cannot be done by every person who wanna stich its own mask, because the technique is not published which makes this project more personal but not open. The fact that the collection is made out of the motivation of fun is one of the most important rules. I think Berjan Pot expands with this project his own personal collection which is more an art piece of the ironic translation of everyday faces.

COMMENTS

The very nice part in this project is that the mask idea came out of a mistake or misunderstanding of a material test what makes this project more interesting and spontaneous. Every mask is a unique piece, coming out of an impulse or inspiration that’s different and new every day.

LINKS

Studio Bertjan Pot

Funzige Box

ABOUT

Funzige Box is a project by illustrator Funs Janssen (Funzig). The project tells a story about himself and to tell this story he made a box containing all sorts of tools to make prints. People can participate and use the tools inside the box such as a stamp and silkscreen to create their own Funzig illustrations. The main illustration which is made with the silkscreen is a bear, which is symbolic for himself. In addition to this people can add claws for instance with a rolling stamp and people then take their own customized illustration home with them.

CREATOR

Funzig, a studying illustrator at the Willem de Kooning Academie in Rotterdam is an illustrator who mostly works analogue because of his fascination with crafts. He mostly uses black and white with sometimes the addition of one other colour. Funzig – which is a derivative for his name – means vulgar and he likes to search for the border of which can and cannot be done.  Vulgarity is often incorporated in his illustrations as small details.

RULES/RESTRICTIONS

People can only use the ready-made tools but can choose between three colours. The silk screen print and the stamps can be made with different levels of pressure, and the rolling stamp can be used in different ways. The stamps can of course be placed anywhere on the paper. The print can also be customized by choosing which colour is stamped/printed first, the paint is partly transparent.

COMMENTS

The nice thing about this project is that people can actually make the print of an illustrator, something that is not common. Normally an illustration or print can only be bought. In this way Funzig enables people to participate in his process and in this way learn more about him.

Pictures belong to: Funzig

Vaal

ABOUT:
Folds, pleats and streaks. Lines, rhythm and layers. A stratification of tradition, an interweaving of the past and the present.   

Traditional Dutch attire is comprised of various types of folds and pleats. Fabrics are treated with starch and heat to give form and structure. Sharp folds are ironed into fabric to shape caps, skirts and cloths. Whether starched or ironed, each pleat sculpts the fabric in a meaningful way, and change the manner in which garments drape over the body. These traditional folding and pleating techniques inform our collection and are an important point of departure for our work. 

A noteworthy feature of regional folkloric attire is the way in which many layers are worn over one another. Multiple skirts are worn under an apron. A bodice and an ornamental vest-like garment for bosom and back are combined with a large cloth. A complete set of headgear includes an under cap, a decorative ear brace and a bonnet. Materials are stratified to complement each other aesthetically and functionally. The construction of the fabric, its protective properties and decorative qualities are the platform from which we search for intriguing combinations of technique and material.  The items in our collection refer to the traditional way of dressing with an eye on the present.

CREATOR:
Tomas en Wies. Vaal, product and accessory collection.

RULES/RESTRICTIONS:
– Various types of folds and pleats
– Layers
– Referring to the traditional way of dressing with an eye on the present.

COMMENTS:
I think the colours in this collection are used well and the products have an unique design. The presentation of the collection is somewhat unclear.. But in an other way it just makes sense. I  had to look a few times to know what i was looking at. But for me that is no problem. That maybe makes it even more interesting. It’s presented in a kind of a home atmosphere, but different. More modern and it has a sports look. You see it’s no trash but of high quality.

LINKS:
http://www.artsthread.com/portfolios/vaal/
http://tomasenwies.nl/

Von Sono

   

ABOUT:
VON SONO is a series of seasonal projects that evolved over the last 10 years. It started with individual products and has developed into unisex collections and a range of products and accessories. A combination of design, concept, craft and artisan production creates clothes and products for everyday life. Each season is compact – instead of ranges and product groups it is about getting the pieces just right for each season. We make clothes that give you the luxury of feeling at ease, free and confident when wearing them.

It is not very clear what the collections are about.. The text above is the only ‘explanation’ i could find on the website about this collection. I think it is about people who don’t want to see all the bad things in the world because they are afraid of it. They are afraid because when they see all these things that are happening they can’t ignore it anymore and have to do something about it. Maybe not only the bad things in the world but also to start with themselves. They keep there eyes shut to escape from reality.

CREATOR:
Von Sono. Spring/Summer 2015.

RULES/RESTRICTIONS:
– The face has to be hidden
– On almost every peace is a text, mostly: Rebuild Rethink Reset
– It has to be comfortable
– Kind of minimalistic

COMMENTS:
I think this is a really strong collection. It is very conceptual. It has a strong statement. There is no need for a lot of things going on to make there point clear. It is really a unity because of the text that returns and there simple silhouettes and use of fabrics. Also the scarves return multiple times which can be used in multiple ways.

The one thing that I miss is the explanation about the collection. The only text I could find which explains it in a bit of an abstract way is the text posted above. I think their work has a good story but it’s a shame it is not explained well. That would make their work much stronger.

LINKS:
http://www.vonsono.de/
http://www.vonsono.de/pages/collection-spring-summer-2015-1

Cancer patient hair jewellery by Sybille Paulsen

ABOUT

Sybille Paulsen is a Berlin based designer who right now focusses on the creation of jewellery made out of hair from cancer diagnosed patients who undergo chemotherapy. Women cut off their hair before it slowly falls out and give it to Sybille to transform it into jewellery within two weeks in which she also gets closer to the patient. It can help patients and their families during this transformation and helps as a starting point for difficult conversations with family or friends.

 

CREATOR

The collection of jewellery is created by the artist Sybille Paulsen in cooperation with the client, which is the patient (and family).

 

RULES/RESTRICTIONS

The collection is in her own hand because she is the only one who actually makes them. The jewellery is only made for female cancer diagnosed patients but it is not made entirely of hair. Some pieces also include precious metals like brass, silver or gold or made of cast-resin pieces in colours that have value to the wearer.

 

COMMENTS

I don’t know if this counts as open design. It is more like a normal project with customer and producer, but then specifically on hair but it might as well be a client buying a table from a table designer but I really like the idea of the project because the designer works closely with the patient and the result is an emotionally precious product made from their own identity.

 

LINKS

http://www.dezeen.com/2015/03/07/sybille-paulsen-cancer-patients-hair-chemotherapy-jewellery-tangible-truths/

http://www.sybille.me/