Hella Jongerius’s Unique vases

Dutch designer Hella Jongerius worked with one of the oldest factories in the Netherlands Royal Tichelaar Makkum to create a special collection of 300 unique vases. As the film below says, this is more about “creating than designing”. The decisions made to experiment with glazes and finishing are a happy accident and leave a literal fingerprint on the vase which shows the process of creating from beginning to finish.

Thanks to thefoxisblack.com for this tip-off.

“Obsolescence is a crime” Massimo Vignelli

Planned obsolescence is the design and manufacture of products that are deliberately intended to have a limited useful life. The result is that you are forced into an everlasting cycle of replacing, repurchasing and repeating.

Designer Massimo Vignelli was said “Obsolescence is a crime”. He couldn’t be more right. This is the message that Vitsœ live by and whilst I worked for them during most of my twenties this was something that I firmly believed in. My love of the slow movement grew out of this message and I began to search for a way to live better, with less, that lasts longer.

Whilst many of us look for the latest fashions for clothing and the home, Vitsœ is quietly going about its way selling the same product that it has done for over 50 years. I cannot think of any company that is doing the same thing without messing around with the product. Even my beloved Ercol are playing around with their products.

You can read a lot more of the message at vitsoe.com and treat yourself to the first purchase that will start a lifetime of love for this little furniture company.

Mark Adams discusses Dieter Rams’s 10 principles of good design

In this video Mark Adams, Managing Director of the iconic shelving system Vitsœ, discusses Dieter Ram’s 10 principles of good design during our visit to Vitsœ headquarters in London. Adams gives us unique insight into the history of the brand and its meaning to Dieter Rams, demonstrating how Rams’ principles relate directly to the style and success of the Vitsœ name.

See the original post at Cool Hunting

Kuntzel+Deygas unveil House of MiCha

Olivier Kuntzel and Florence Deygas, or Kuntzel+Deygas as they are better known, are a duo of artists who live and work in Paris, best known for their characters “Caperino & Peperone” created for cult store colette, Paris… some might say they are best known for the title sequence of the Spielberg film ‘Catch me if You Can‘ but I prefer Cap+Pep. The duo have been working together since 1990 and have become internationally recognised for their work, being commissioned by Blue Chip giants such as American Express, Lacoste and Nokia to name a few.

But recently the duo launched a new website dedicated to a long-lost character that saw an exhibition at colette in 2001 entitled ‘House of MiCha’ where they were showing four different versions of their charming character: sit, walk, round back and Baby Mi-Cha sitting. A limited edition of 50 pieces were produced and never to be seen again… until now.

houseofmicha.com is a new e-boutique dedicated to their collection of four MiCha pet lamps available exclusively for online subscribers in a limited run of 250, signed and numbered by the artists. Watch their specially created film for the launch of the lamps…

Beeb does the Genius of Design

This five-part series, made by the team behind the award-winning series The Genius of Photography, tells the story of design from the Industrial Revolution through 20s modernism, the swinging 60s, the designer 80s and up to the present day. Features interviews with star designers like Philippe Starck and creatives from Apple and Ford; as well as design fans like Stephen Fry and last but not least Dieter Rams.

Okay, I can’t help it.  40 hours a week is spent promoting Dieter Rams and his wonderful products so when I knew that this TV series was coming along I was in the perfect position to write about it.

The first of five weekly episodes airs on Friday 7 May 2010 at 7pm. on BBC2.

Should you wish to hear more, the series producer, Tim Kirby, will be examining the inspiration behind the series alongside its production and measured approach to the subject of design. Register for your ticket at the latest ‘Vitsœ talks’.

You can buy the DVD at the bbcshop.com.