“NRM (New Role Models) is an empowering initiative designed by David Kim and Mike Seto
The series of chairs features artwork by a variety of artists. Each is made out of 1/4-inch steel, bent, and laminated with a vinyl print. They distributed these chairs all around Manhattan and Brooklyn, so if you happen to see one, enjoy a seat!”
Following an interesting lecture last night titled ‘The Architecture of Shoes’ In which the presenter demonstrated the many fields of design architects and other design degrees can go into.
Stated were some interesting figures on Architecture at Milan University, Italy; 1000 students were enrolled each year whilst only 100 graduated.
Rather than Looking at it as 900 students failing architecture between entry and finishing, Instead 900 students were provided with the design skills to go into a number of different fields.
I can’t help but think of buildings when I see the like’s of Marloes ten Bhömer’s shoes.
I’ll be honest, women’s shoes fall outside my usual scope of interest but the design behind the footwear below I think is really innovative wearable artworks.
The construction, use of materials (arbon fibre, fiberglass, Stainless steel , Polyurethane resin and tarpaulin) clear cut clean lines, are all innovative and being to move from the world of women’s fashion into product and architecture design.
From her website:
“Critically acclaimed designer Marloes ten Bhömer produces shoes that are both provocative and otherworldly. Her work fuses artistic and technological experiment in order to discover shoes anew. Ten Bhömer’s work has been exhibited in museums and galleries internationally and she gives lectures about her work worldwide. She takes on challenging commissions from galleries and private clients.”
http://marloestenbhomer.squarespace.com/
Any Personal Favourites?
“..what is the difference between analogue and digital, physical and virtual? what connects and bridges these apparently different worlds?”
Dialog05 wished to expolore this question with their exhibit ‘universal connections.’ A question they say each member must address on a daily basis as an industrial designer, cerating consumer products.
The team decided to explore the subculture of the USB — Originally limited to only geeks, nerds and those in the industry, but now, is an every day item, bordering on low-tech, a technology that has been clearly understood and accepted by the general public.
“..something democratic evolves and develops and therefore often even receives a totally different usage than was originally intended.”
“this phenomena inspired us to use the USB interface, with all its possibilities and ambiguities as a medium for this project. we created installations, objects and products that are surprising, enlightening, inspiring and questioning, and on the other hand ironic or even amusing. “
the direct individual-data-connection for hearing, scanning and checking. any more secrets?
what are our essential needs? what do we really need for surviving?
not only for data junkies, also in the event of a virus. or simply for your daily data rations!
communication is spontaneous, direct, and works best between two individuals. is digital a serious alternative?
no access for unauthorized persons.
plastic, steel and glass. where should the data go? an icon regains its physical form
for the non-dialling generation, it’s a trip into the past – for those born earlier, it’s a trip down memory lane.
forgotten your password? the universal handle opens doors and gates.
a snapshot from summer, your favorite gig, your first time or your last flirtation. do you want to click through your memories or bury them?
I was in IKEA recently (yes, the second time in 2 weeks..) looking for a new desk chair amoungst other things (bookshelf, desk lamp, bath mat, you know, the usual)
I’d just sat on my what felt like 20th chair.. testing for back support, neck support, tilt, rotation, etc.. there’s a lot to think about when it comes to buying a chair.
It got me thinking of the thousands of differnet chairs out there and, perhaps a few blog posts on the more famous out there would make for good reading..
So, first under the microscop is, the Wassily Chair (Or model B3)
by designer Marcel Breuer –
“my most extreme work . . . the least artistic, the most logical, the least ‘cozy’ and the most mechanical.”
The chair was designed between 1925 and 1926 whilst Breuer was working as the head of a cabinet-making workshop (yeah I don’t get it either..) at the Bahaus.
Breuer worked as an architect, teacher and furniture designer, though it is certainly safe to say that it is the model B3 that he is referenced to, despite a number of famous works.
Although not made specifically for the painter, Wassily Kandinsky (one of my favourite painters, he even did my desktop background for me..) a replica was created for his private quarters and the chair was then coined the “wassily chair.”
The inspiration behind the lightweight steel tubing?
Well, Breuer was apparently an avid biker, he would ride his bicycle daily; noticing the strong, but lightweight handlebars and frame of his bike.
If it could make for good handlebars, then why not furniture?
The frame of the chair is in fact the same as say a stuffed club armchair but instead, has been stripped to it’s simple frame and draped together with simple black leather. Against the gleaming steel tubing it represents much of the modernist movement.
Like everything, the chair gone through, sadly, a mass reproduce — every man and his dog is now making a Wasilly chair.
Want one?
Try here… there is a Wassilly chair for every budget.
http://www.nextag.com/wassily-chair/search-html
A whole research article could be devoted to “choosing the right Wassilly chair for you”
The chair is now part of the permanent collection at the MOMA.