Gift Guide: Office

Thought I’d put together a gift guide for the stylish workaholics. We – I mean they – might like to be treated to something functional and beautiful this holiday!

Billy bookcase, $277 (this combination), IKEA

Barometer work lamp, $49.99, IKEA

Dokument pencil cup, $2.49 for 2, IKEA

Staple-free stapler, $19.25, Green Home

Peep clock, $72, MoMA

2011 Animal calendar, $24.95, MoMA

Images courtesy of Green Home, IKEA bookcase IKEA pencil cups, MoMA clock, MoMA.

Deep Design

Post by Johanne

Deep Design hard at work. The Bluebell prototype floor lamp takes its name from the plant it so perfectly embodies.

In case you missed it when you were traveling in Milan last year, lucky for you, we have images of the deepdesign exhibit at the Triennale Design Museum in Italy.

The fascinating exposition is about “l’anima sensibile delle cose” (“the sensible soul of things”) and showcases six objects and an assortment of photos featuring the innovative creations by Matteo Bazzicalupo and Raffaella Mangiarotti of the Milanese design agency Deep Design.

The show’s press release explains the design duo’s philosophy and approach to commercial and industrial design: “Taking as their model the dynamics of the natural world, deepdesign’s research aims to harmonize functional complexity and formal organicism to achieve a pure one economy of the shape.”

Here’s a sampler of the Milanese exhibit:

Dandelion

Deep Design duo Matteo Bazzicalupo and Raffaella Mangiarotti with the Dandelion lamp: a thin stalk topped with dandelion-like seed puffs, light as air.

Flexica

The Flexica is designed to be able to slide under low-lying furniture in the home- unlike many electric vacuum appliances that simply don't fit. The reality of our furnishings is that there isn't a lot of space underneath our chairs, recliners, and love-seats and somehow, other vacuums on the market fail to address this challenge.

Deep Design's Flexica

Pulse

The Pulse washing vessel is Deep Design's washing machine prototype based on the concept of centripetal force. The vessel is designed to keep air and water in continuous flow, and with the help of various membranes and pressure changes, the laundry gets done. When the device is in use, a light icon is activated via electroluminescence.

Flat Piano

The Flat Piano addresses that interior design question of where to keep the space-greedy but beautiful grand piano in today's smaller homes. Deep Design suggests an alternative to the dining room or work table: an electronic keyboard that runs under a large glossy white top with an electronic device that acts as its sound board. When not being played it becomes a work or dining table. With built-in amplifiers meticulously designed to evenly deliver 3D sound across the surface of the table, it's practical without compromising sound quality.

Winds

Deep Design's prototype hair dryer is designed to address the hairdresser's uncomfortable posture from using typical hair dryers. Its double airflow, L-shape and redesigned internal components are also intended to direct the airflow directly at the hair for better styling while also reducing the strain on the hairdresser's arm from twisting the typical hair dryer into a 90 degree position.

Images and more information about the Deep Design exhibit prototypes can be found at Plus Mood. For more information about the Triennale Design Museum in Milan, we suggest visiting the Museum website.

Snow Days

We’re experiencing our second heavy snowfall today here in London. The whole city has basically shut down – the university is closed, shops are closed, and public transportation is only running for half of the day.

This afternoon I put on my Hunter boots and fleece liners (amazing!), wore layers of clothing, sported my furry chapeau and I braved the winter weather. Here is what (a mostly white) downtown London looks like today:

Victoria park is covered in snow

Snow covered trees in Victoria Park

St. Peter's Cathedral with a dusting of snow

St. Peter's Cathedral in white

p.s. For those of you who are curious – yes, I absolutely adore white. But that doesn’t necessarily mean I love the snow. It’s great to look at but it’s really not for me.

Images by Jordana.

Polka Dots at Sugar Paper

Sugar Paper makes the most beautiful letterpress stationary. I’m smitten. I love so many of their designs but I’ve decided to feature some of their polka dots in keeping with this post on Fashion in Motion.

Black Label Carriage note set, $36 set of 10 cards & envelopes, Sugar Paper

Gold dot coaster, $24 set of 15, Sugar Paper

Custom design social stationery, Sugar Paper

And isn’t this such an elegant letter opener?

Signature letter opener, silver plated, $52, Sugar Paper

If you want to learn more about letterpress have a peek at the “Behind the Scenes” video at Sugar Paper.

p.s. High Gloss is currently hosting a Sugar Paper giveaway. Hooray!

Images courtesy of Sugar Paper.