22/5/10
New York Design Week 2010 (Update 22-05)
New York Design Week 2010: An infinite lamp by Michal Bartosik New York Design Week 2010: Michal Bartosik from Core77 on Vimeo.
At ICFF this year, Michal Bartosik, an architect and designer based in Toronto, showed Dominion, a series of lamps/coffee tables that reflect the ceiling grid of Mies van der Rohe's Toronto-Dominion building ad infinitum. Because the pattern is modular, the reflection planes compound to produce a never ending effect. The pieces are available through Nienkamper, and are part of the Klaus Collection. He explains above.
After a nice conversation with Michal about his architecture and design practice, we looked into some of his past work. It's awesome—check out the fluorescent domes he's made, a smartly detailed nod to Bucky Fuller.
More from Michal at his site and after the jump.
Todd Bracher as featured in Intramuros Magazine this month.
Carte Blanche, we caught up with Todd Bracher, an American designer featured on the cover of this month's issue of Intramuros. After working in Copenhagen, Milan, Paris and London, Bracher made a move back to the United States a few years ago to establish a studio in his native New York City. Below, Todd demonstratesPhysical Illusion, his project for the DuPont Corian Carte Blanche exhibition.
New York Design Week 2010: Todd Bracher @ Carte Blanche from Core77 on Vimeo.
We talked to Todd about why so many designers in the USA are eager to define "American Design." What's with the nationalism? He pointed out that designers in the USA are wondering who holds their flag: "Italians have brands like Moroso, Alessi, and Cappellini. The UK has Habitat and Established and Sons. They have a homeland advantage." He acknowledged that America has Nike, Coke and Herman Miller, but they aren't in the same game. The "emotional side" of design is not focused on here. The American prowess is in marketing, branding, and sales potential."
Todd is optimistic despite the lack of representation. He observed that in Milan, the scene has been changing. "Design has become less big business, more small producers, and the ideas are as strong." The growth of the designer-maker is reflected in the American scene as well. "American designers are ganging up. They don't need branding or manufacturers to represent their ideas." We were happy to hear it.
Physical Illusion, by Todd Bracher for Corian.
A growth of independence in the American design scene should also free designers up to explore some of the weirder and more wonderful corners of American culture. Through his work at Mater, a Danish company out to support craft traditions, Todd was sent to artisans in 3rd world countries, like stone masons in India, to develop design projects around their particular set of skills. But, Todd said, "Craft is dying everywhere. In New Orleans, there are quiltmakers and bootmakers without work." We tend to go to 3rd world countries to try to "revive" them, but there is plenty to work with at home in the US.
Todd is fleshing out a project that works with some of these issues. Instead of designing an object with the tools of a particular trade, he is developing a tool specifically for a craftsman. This is not only to find new directions for a craft, but to also design a system that will create products, removing design one step from the actual output.
Pick up this month's issue of Carte Blanche exhibit at Corian Dupont, open through July 2nd, 2010.
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