Designing with Depth

Creating the illusion of depth is a key aspect of two-dimensional design. The ability to make a flat surface appear three-dimensional provides the viewer with a delightfully false impression of space. For textile designers, this illusion is often incorporated within patterns and designs in order to give the piece a higher level of interest and complexity.

Angela Adams has taken the notion of depth to another level by sidestepping the illusion and instead giving the viewer the real thing through the art of surface relief. The collection of Wool Rugs by designer Angela Adams can be described as traditional hand-tufted rugs with a modern twist. The heavy texture and depth of these vivid and original rugs provides a topographic quality to the work evocative of relief sculpture. Available in a wide variety of colorful patterns, all of Angela Adams rugs are made with 100% New Zealand wool and are GoodWeave certified.

Images courtesy of Angela Adams.

Organic and Inorganic Principles

FlatFlat is an online games portal for mobile phones, developed by NHN Japan Corporation and designed by SAKO Architects. SAKO provided the interior design for FlatFlat, which is located at the center of Harajuku, Tokyo. The concept behind this contemporary games portal was focused on incorporating both organic and inorganic principles while representing Harajuku’s very modern society. The organic aspect of the design is found in the curved lines that create the cave-like appearance of the space. The inorganic design characteristics were achieved through the incorporation of bright white walls. The overtly white space generates a feeling of expansion and is accented by the neon lighting and mortar floor to stimulate the curiosity of the visitors by subtly leading them to the inner parts of the narrow spaces.

On and Poppin’

K2’s New York office has been seeing a multitude of pop up stores arising in the Lower East Side and East Village. Everything ranging from the infamous street artist Banksy, creating a pet shop made up of his stenciled creations to London’s “Wish You Were Here” retail hub.

Hoping on the indie train is Prada’s Parisian contingent. Sprawling across 570 sq meters and two floors is a new Prada pop up store, with a bridge-themed façade designed by architect Roberto Baciocchi. The mirrored interiors reflect a bohemian homage to Prada’s 1913 original Milan store and a ready-to-wear collection with a shelf life of only 5 months. We’ll see you in Paris !

(Thanks to our friends at Wallpaper* for this gem.)
Images courtesy of Wallpaper*

Design Flexibility

There is good design and there is smart design. When a visually pleasing and well-constructed piece of furniture can offer the user a variety of options and flexibility, the conceptual element of the work takes it to a higher level of design. With the flood of new products that continuously inundate the design market, the following three designers are using flexibility and ingenuity to float above the product deluge.

The SwiTCh Table-Chair by Belgian designer Ellen Ectors can be used as both a casual armchair and as compact desk and chair combination. The handsomely stitched leather on the ball/seat is carried into the solid European oak frame to give the SwiTCh Table-Chair a desirable level of consistency. Available in: Apple Green, Marine Blue, Café or Espresso Brown and Polar (Cream).

Versatility is the driving force behind The Las Vegas Collection from IVINI Garden Furniture. Designed for outdoor use in a variety of situations, the collection can take the form of a particular need with few limitations. The multitude of shapes that the collection takes on is possible due to the versatility of the individual pieces. The Las Vegas Collection is as adaptable as it is durable, setting a new standard for outdoor furniture design.

German designer Tim Kerp has developed the Sonntag modular seating collection based on his passion for togetherness and community. The Sonntag seating collection offers a variety of seating positions in order to allow a natural and organic spontaneity to conversation. Precisely shaped through CNC milling, the modules are easily arranged and rearranged without the use of tools.

Images courtesy of Ellen Ectors, IVINI and Tim Kerp.

Give Us Moore

We would like to introduce you to a rising star in the graphics world, Matt W. Moore. Matt owns MWM Graphics out of Portland, Maine and is known for his “Vectorfunk” style that lends itself to everything from colorful digital illustration to large aerosol outdoor murals. Currently Matt is well know as a street artist all over the world, shown here is a current outdoor piece that he is working on, however his talents have also created creative collaborations with various clothing companies, print add work and K2 snowboards. We are sure once the design world locks eyes on Matt’s inspiring color illustrations the product collaborations will be bountiful, perhaps a perfect combo with the likes of color guru Kareem Rashid?

Images courtesy of Wooster Collective